The new Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, has come under heavy criticism from Ghanaians, who have labelled his remarks as reckless.
This controversy arises from the mayor’s decision to implement measures such as flogging traders, jailing law offenders, or even slaughtering cattle found on the streets of Kumasi for causing disruptions.
On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, during a press conference, the Kumasi Mayor, popularly known as King Zuba, announced that any cattle found within the jurisdiction of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) would be seized, slaughtered, and their meat sent to the Kumasi Central Prisons to feed inmates.
He further declared that, starting Wednesday, April 16, 2025, traders caught selling on pavements and walkways would face corporal punishment, including flogging.
These remarks have sparked backlash from politicians and prominent figures across the country.
While some deem his comments reckless and argue that such statements should neither be entertained nor tolerated, some have even called for his dismissal.
While at that, this GhanaWeb piece explores some notable Ghanaians who have, meanwhile, slammed the mayor over those comments he made
Kwesi Pratt Jnr
The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, questioned the effectiveness of the selection process for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
Commenting on the issue on Metro TV, Kwesi Pratt said he was completely shocked by the mayor’s public display of lawlessness.
“For me, the most important question is; how did such a person get appointed as the Metropolitan Chief Executive for Kumasi? How did he get appointed, and who interviewed him? That is the critical question for me. From the way he is talking, if you sit down with him for five minutes, it should be possible to discern what his orientation is. But he was interviewed, he went through the system, and got approval to become the Metropolitan Chief Executive of one of the biggest cities in Ghana.
“This is the shock. The shock is not so much about what he said, but how he got to that position. Something is seriously wrong with the system of appointment. I am completely scandalised by the kind of statements he is making. I think I would be even more scandalised if, after this display, he is still at post. If, after this display, he is still at post, it would be a huge statement about the appointing authorities and those who choose to leave him there. This would not be tolerated anywhere,” Pratt stated.
Akosua Manu
A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Team, Akosua Manu, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to sack the mayor due to what she termed as threats of physical assault on traders.
In an interview on ChannelOne News and monitored by GhanaWeb on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the 2024 NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Adentan Constituency stated that physical assault must be condemned, as it departs from acceptable standards of governance.
“What I do not understand is that somebody put into a leadership role can’t stand in front of people to warn or to threaten them of physical assault.
“He assumed a position in two weeks, truth be told, he should have been the shortest-serving appointee in this government. Upon hearing that he had repeated physical assault as a likely punishment to deter hawkers, the president should have called the Chief of Staff to withdraw him immediately,” she noted.
Amnesty International boss
The Board Chairman of Amnesty International Ghana, Francis Nyantakyi, has also criticised Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi for his apparent disregard for the rule of law.
Reacting to the mayor’s comments in an interview with Joy FM, and monitored by GhanaWeb, he stated that the mayor has no place in Ghana’s governance if he does not uphold the rule of law.
“We need to analyse and find ways to support these men and women to do their business legitimately without endangering their lives, not to threaten them.
“The most unfortunate part of this situation is that the Mayor seems not to believe in the rule of law. And anyone who does not believe in the rule of law has no business in the governance of our country,” he said.
He added, “For heaven’s sake, Ghana is a democratic country. We believe in the protection of human rights, enshrined in Chapter Five of the Constitution. So, for a mayor to say he doesn’t trust the police and will instead put his own men in the back of a pickup truck to assault people — I mean, it is very unfortunate,” Nyantakyi said.
VKB/AE
